The Journals of Zaleem: Part 7 - Affirmation

By Tommy Masek

As the result of an accident aboard their ship, Xacs Omathe, a California avocado grower, is inadvertently abducted by an alien race which has cultivated life in our galaxy and the greater universe for billions of years. He lives and travels with them for nearly three centuries, experiencing what the future may hold for the Human race.
The creation of all life on Earth was accomplished by the Aanbollth, an extraterrestrial race dedicated to the improvement and continued development of life in the Universe. They are the ultimate engineers of all organisms, great and small, on this beautiful planet known, in part, as M37CXA19B24R3.
The history of Earth and many other worlds is chronicled in the journals of Zaleem Aah Ju Amaharah Ees, Earth’s gardener until his untimely death at the relatively young age of 48,373 Earth years.
Sixteen of the seventeen crewmembers aboard the ship are killed immediately, and Zaleem, the Captain, dies five days later. A moment before his death, Zaleem slips an amulet, his recorder, into Xacs’s hand, saying it will provide him with safe passage.
An Aanbollth female, Oelphia, for short, is the only other long-term survivor of the accident. She becomes Xacs’s life-long mentor, supporting him initially through genetic modifications and rehab, and later by finding him a job and a mate.
Several cycles pass in Part 7. Xacs’s life has become rather stable as a result of his being more generally accepted by the public. He no longer is seen as an alien threat with secret plans to steal Aanbol secrets, and his art is widely enjoyed.
As in the past parts of this story, Xacs’s activities have been condensed into the most salient events that shaped his life on the planet. The more mundane periods are omitted.
Previously, he and Arlyne Anst had closed a large loophole in the Bank of Aanbol’s accounting practices that allowed a great deal of quad to be stolen. Through Other Life interviews they follow the money and facilitate the recovery of a significant portion of the funds. Xacs is rewarded for his efforts and splits that with his lady friends.
After being asked by a customer if the farm was working on any new fruit products, Xacs realizes that there are possibilities he’d never considered because of his preoccupation with surviving numerous assaults. He discovers that one popular fruit on Earth, and not being cultivated on Aanbol, was pineapple. Unlike on Earth, it had not evolved on Aanbol.
His inquiries stimulate the Species Development group to develop a plant similar to one he’d known, and along with Space System Fabricators, the builder of space vehicles, they build a huge greenhouse on the previously undeveloped portion of the farm. With precise environmental controls, pineapple and another new fruit, the mangavo, become major crops for the farm.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tommy Masek
• Release date: Sep 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005017651

Tommy Masek

In his early career, Tommy worked as an engineer and scientist, having degrees from the University of Colorado, and MIT. He worked for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Rockwell International, and Hughes Research Laboratories, with a primary focus on ion propulsion for spacecraft. In later years, he manufactured coal stoker heating equipment. The Journals of Zaleem Series will be six novels in the science fiction genre. In Part 1, Xacs Omathe is abducted by an alien race and must deal with survival on an alien planet. Eventually, after nearly three centuries of living and traveling with the Aanbollth race, he will be returned to Earth to publish his memoirs before his death. Tommy has also written The Alexander Affair, The Quixote Files, The Whistler Agenda, and The Heiress and the Black Monk. The last three of these novels follow political reporter Martin Cosgrove as he unravels mysteries and dodges bullets. Tommy has been married to his high school sweetheart, Claudia, since 1962. They reside in Oxnard, California, with their Yorkie dependents, Oscar and Theo.

Book preview

About THE JOURNALS OF ZALEEM

Part 7 – Affirmation

As the result of an accident aboard their ship, Xacs Omathe, a California avocado grower, is inadvertently abducted by an alien race which has cultivated life in our galaxy and the greater universe for billions of years. He lives and travels with them for nearly three centuries, experiencing what the future may hold for the Human race.

The creation of all life on Earth was accomplished by the Aanbollth, an extraterrestrial race dedicated to the improvement and continued development of life in the Universe. They are the ultimate engineers of all organisms, great and small, on this beautiful planet known, in part, as M37CXA19B24R3.

The history of Earth and many other worlds is chronicled in the journals of Zaleem Aah Ju Amaharah Ees, Earth’s gardener until his untimely death at the relatively young age of 48,373 Earth years.

Sixteen of the seventeen crewmembers aboard the ship are killed immediately, and Zaleem, the Captain, dies five days later. A moment before his death, Zaleem slips an amulet, his recorder, into Xacs’s hand, saying it will provide him with safe passage.

An Aanbollth female, Oelphia, for short, is the only other long-term survivor of the accident. She becomes Xacs’s life-long mentor, supporting him initially through genetic modifications and rehab, and later by finding him a job and a mate.

Several cycles pass in Part 7. Xacs’s life has become rather stable as a result of his being more generally accepted by the public. He no longer is seen as an alien threat with secret plans to steal Aanbol secrets, and his art is widely enjoyed.

As in the past parts of this story, Xacs’s activities have been condensed into the most salient events that shaped his life on the planet. The more mundane periods are omitted.

Previously, he and Arlyne Anst had closed a large loophole in the Bank of Aanbol’s accounting practices that allowed a great deal of quad to be stolen. Through Other Life interviews they follow the money and facilitate the recovery of a significant portion of the funds. Xacs is rewarded for his efforts and splits that with his lady friends.

After being asked by a customer if the farm was working on any new fruit products, Xacs realizes that there are possibilities he’d never considered because of his preoccupation with surviving numerous assaults. He discovers that one popular fruit on Earth, and not being cultivated on Aanbol, was pineapple. Unlike on Earth, it had not evolved on Aanbol.

His inquiries stimulate the Species Development group to develop a plant similar to one he’d known, and along with Space System Fabricators, the builder of space vehicles, they build a huge greenhouse on the previously undeveloped portion of the farm. With precise environmental controls, pineapple and another new fruit, the mangavo, become major crops for the farm.

THE JOURNALS OF ZALEEM

As Chronicled in

The Memoirs of Xacs Omathe

PART 7 – AFFIRMATION

Tommy D. Masek

THE JOURNALS OF ZALEEM: PART 7 – AFFIRMATION

Copyright © 2021 by Tommy D. Masek. All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.

Foreword to Part 7

By

Jacqueline Laleh Karacasevich

As we’ve seen thus far, Xacs has successfully adapted to life on Aanbol by pursuing activities he excels at and avoiding those he’s unsuited for. Without realizing it, Gardener Services’ purchase of the farm was the key to his survival and eventual success. It provided a safe haven of sorts that allowed him to create the niche art business.

The genetic changes the Species Development Group made to him early on have been an equally important factor for his integration into Aanbollth life. The women he’s living with provide loving relationships and a realistic perspective on the life he’s been dropped into. He recognizes the contributions they’ve made to his life, in addition to the satisfaction of sex, and he intends to share whatever wealth he might create with them.

Xacs’s ability to communicate with the Other Life continues to provide insight into the Aanbollth psyche, which he finds isn’t fundamentally different from what he experienced on Earth. Greed, jealousy, hatred, fear, and love seemed to be the most common reasons for criminal behavior.

Situations and personalities were different from his Earth experiences, but many traits of intelligent beings seemed to be common, perhaps across the universe. In general, Aanbollths were more civilized, crime rates were significantly lower, and mass murder was an uncommon event. He hadn’t yet heard of more than a few deaths in a single incident. On the other hand, some crimes were more creative due to their intelligence and longer duration. The bank fraud cases he helped with were good examples.

As he continues his art career, he’s asked to build a bird replica with feathers. That turns out to be harder and more interesting than he imagines when he takes on the project.

Based on Xacs’s suggestion, Species Development’s Ag group develops a species of pineapple new to Aanbol. Pineapple had developed on Earth as an evolution from a grain crop, but not on Aanbol. In need of a large greenhouse for the pineapple project, Space Systems Fabricators develops an inflated roof concept to cover about five square miles of the farm. SSF also plans to use the greenhouse system concept to support the Space Agency’s cultivation of other planets.

All in all, Xacs is thriving on Aanbol, but he knows his days are numbered. He’s already lived twice as long as he would have on Earth and won’t be surprised when he’s told there’s a mission being planned to take him home.

My role is simply that of a messenger, and I’m definitely not the creator of these stories. Nor can I possibly judge the accuracy of the claims made by Xacs. There’s a great deal of background information in the first six parts and new readers are encouraged to begin with Part 1. We are presently in the process of obtaining Part 8. Any and all feedback is welcome.

CONTENTS

Foreword to Part 7

Prologue

Chapter 1 – The Magistrate

Chapter 2 – Following The Quad

Chapter 3 – A Long Night

Chapter 4 – A Bonus

Chapter 5 – Mating Dragons

Chapter 6 – The Civic Center Bridge

Chapter 7 – The Brothel Murder

Chapter 8 – A Shovel Will Do

Chapter 9 – Bending A Dragon

Chapter 10 – Colorful Reflections

Chapter 11 – Jenniphor’s Designs

Chapter 12 – Hybrid Trees

Chapter 13 – New Fruit Prospects

Chapter 14 – A Plass Bridge

Chapter 15 – The Sangor Plan

Chapter 16 – Pineapple

Chapter 17 – Good News or Bad

Chapter 18 – Greenhouse Options

Chapter 19 – Clearing Paths

Chapter 20 – The Logging Operation

Chapter 21 – The Animated Process

Chapter 22 – Pineapple Plants Galore

Chapter 23 – The SSF Greenhouse Model

Chapter 24 – Zapped In the Shower

Chapter 25 – Greenhouse Plans

Chapter 26 – Pilot Greenhouse

Chapter 27 – Rain and More Rain

Chapter 28 – Buried Animal Replicas

Chapter 29 – Dreanner Curristra Mine

Chapter 30 – The Rest Of The Story

Chapter 31 – Another Physical Exam

Chapter 32 – Cally

Chapter 33 – For The Birds

Chapter 34 – A Carved Mural

Chapter 35 – The Aanbollth Life

Chapter 36 – A Design Exercise

Glossary of Terms

Character and Name List

XACS OMATHE

My Life with the Aanbollth

PART 7 – AFFIRMATION

Prologue

The Bank of Aanbol reorganization, precipitated by the bank fraud and police corruption investigations, seemingly dispersed or dissolved much of the apprehension and animosity many had felt because of my interviews in the Other Life. Combined with the group of communicators working under Poendal, my concern over having someone show up at the farm to do us harm had gradually diminished.

Then, as discussed in Part 6, the full extent of the bank fraud had been found to have even deeper roots. With Arlyne Anst’s persistence, a system for siphoning off small amounts of money over a long period was discovered and closed down. My help was relatively brief and minor, but satisfying for me just the same.

The support for building an exhibit of replica animals, which had been devised by the magistrate as a smokescreen for Arlyne’s work with me, had been slowly phased out. The exhibit could be justified initially by the importance of solving the banking security issue, but not on its own. I was left with a large number of rather authentic looking animals, in their habitats, without much support for actually opening a public animal park for exhibiting them. The new bridge was a popular visitor site for locals.

The exhibit project had a few benefits for me in spite of the disappointment I felt over not fully fulfilling the objective. I had learned a great deal about a few of the millions of animals the Aanbollth had created in the universe, and I’d interacted with a few of the multitude of scientists involved in the process. In simple terms, they engineered the DNA design to produce each and every living thing in the universe.

Hard to imagine but true. Every plant and animal was designed to replicate itself, often in conjunction with others of the species, but sometimes on its own. Of course, as I’d discovered comparing original animal designs with what I knew of creatures on Earth, a great deal had changed through evolution. The original designs were such that evolutionary changes could be expected, but with a variety of environments couldn’t always be predicted.

Few Aanbollth thought of the process as being miraculous, but after having seen it conceptually as an outsider, to me it was wondrous beyond imagination. Zaleem’s admonishment that I would experience the adventure of my life was the greatest understatement I could ever imagine. I was certain that he was being kind and generous to me in his last beats of life, but I doubt that he imagined I would survive long enough to experience their genius.

How does one create DNA from scratch? Or a cell, for that matter? The DNA in each cell has the code for building the plant, insect, or intelligent creature, but the magic is creating the formula for that process. Their being able to start from nothing and build the organism on paper, so to speak, was nothing short of miraculous. Of course the Aanbollth use the computing power of their minds, and not pen and paper. Then of course, the formula has to be conveyed to the machine that creates matter and life from energy. Imagine creating a creature from start to finish in a computer model.

The process of building the animals out of wood and other materials caused me to think about the complexity of the task of creating the real animals. That minor step in my understanding will be as far as I will probably ever get in understanding how the Aanbollth do what they do. And infused in their genius is the understanding of gravity that allows them to travel the universe to distribute and tend to their creations.

Another significant benefit of the exhibit effort was coming to know Jenniphor Lammonde, an animal specialist in Species Development. She’s become a vital member of our little family, odd as that might seem. I now think of her as a shared mate. She and Sharnielle are as close in their personal relationship as I am to both of them.

Jenniphor has continued working as a technical specialist, commuting each rev to SPC, but she’s working in her free time as an artist. We expect to be carving some of her pieces in the near future. Solice and I have periodically offered suggestions for her paintings, but like all artists we seem to find our own way.

In addition to experiencing great enjoyment in our engagements, I think she somehow sensed from the start that she could develop a meaningful avocation in art, if not a new career path. Neither of Oelphia’s twins showed much interest in what I did, so I was happy to have a partner to share my experiences. Shar had always been happy managing the farm and supporting my work as necessary.

Recognizing that I would be returned to R3 or die long before her life was over, I think we all saw Jenniphor as one who could continue my work, in her own style. I was sad that Aenod had not remained in the Other Life long enough to see how at least part of his legacy would flourish. Marassen, who I believe now had Aenod’s soul, was pursuing a career much like Oelphia’s in the Space Agency. Gaileen was following a path similar to Jenniphor’s in Species Development.

Neither twin had attempted to remain in touch with me. I’d often wondered if I’d done or said something that deeply offended them as children, but I’m left to wonder. Oelphia had returned to the farm after becoming pregnant, and I wondered if the twins felt I’d somehow caused Oelphia to separate from their father. I decided that if Oelphia couldn’t iron out the wrinkles, it was unlikely that I could.

The story in Part 7 covers a long time period as my life reaches a rather stable stage. I’d found my comfort zone, and the rest of the planet seemed to have finally decided I was not the threat they initially imagined. I was told the network had gradually stopped discussing me in disparaging terms.

I have continued interviewing in the Other Life for Arlyne on special cases, and there are exciting periods scattered along the way. Let’s check the story.

CHAPTER 1

The Magistrate

About two pherods passed after Arlyne’s and Racheel’s visit to the farm. I’d not put much faith in Arlyne’s last words that I’d hear from the magistrate. I thought there was no reason for her to contact me other than to say the exhibit had been put on indefinite hold, so I didn’t give it much thought.

My life with Shar and Jenniphor had continued in earnest to finish up the loose ends on the exhibit in such a way that if someone wanted to see it, it would be presentable. Payments on my work had ended with the completion of Sergee’s contracts for the pond, the stream, and the parking area. I finished all the animals, and clustered them into the habitats we’d been able to complete.

I’d finished the bridge on my own and paid Sergee myself to move it with the gravo. Other than a security station and a visitor’s center, the exhibit was ready to go. A few people from Scorlaan who Pozzy knew had visited to see what we’d been doing.

Shar had alerted me to the magistrate’s contact as she usually did.

Xacs Omathe, I’m told that you are well and the bulk of the work on the pilot exhibit is finished.

Everything is fine here. Most of what we planned is finished. I’m sure you can view it fairly well on satellite imagery. You paid me a lot for the work we did, and I thank you for that.

Gleed has remained in contact with the exhibit team and has provided updates. I have all the renderings made by Symphonia.

Those are actually more complete than the actual project.

I know that no one has provided any feedback on the bank situation and I’ll leave most of that to Arlyne. She is authorized to provide certain details that won’t compromise continuing investigations. Your conversations in the Other Life were instrumental in resolving a very serious breach of security in the bank. You have my sincere thanks, Xacs.

Arlyne had found the two most important contacts, so I suspect that Poendal’s team could have had similar conversations just as well. As a bank user, I’m happy to know they’ll have better control over the quad from here on. I was pleased to help. Will you ever be able to recover any of the stolen Q? The theft’s gone on for many slatacycles, I understand.

That aspect is part of the continuing effort I mentioned.

If you need anything else from me, I’ll be here. Thank you for contacting me, Adrianna.

Arlyne plans to continue using you for contacts if that’s alright.

Of course. The Imac is very helpful in that regard, so your having suggested that to Gleed was a great idea.

I believe one of his technical people suggested it originally and I encouraged it.

Either way it’s worked out satisfactorily. Be well, Madam Magistrate.

And you, Xacs Omathe.

A few beats later, Shar said, So?

I think that was her thank you for a job well done.

You saved the bank a lot of Q by working with Arlyne.

Arlyne would have gotten it figured out sooner or later using Poendal’s group.

Without your association with Janece, Racheel would probably never have come forward. She didn’t have a path. Without her information, the case might never have been resolved.

I’m happy if that’s the case and I’m glad Racheel was restored. That was a small piece of justice, I’d say.

A few revs passed before Arlyne contacted me with the first false ID.

I think the magistrate spoke to you not long ago. Is everything worked out with the exhibit?

We’ve finished all I plan to, unless someone wants to finish up the details and open it to the public. Otherwise, I got some experience making animals, and I met Jenniphor.

How is that working out?

You might say I share two mates.

Oh my. That sounds complicated.

It’s actually great. And I think Jenniphor will be a great artist. Better than me, probably. She still works full time for Species Development. I still have the helper working part time, and with the exhibit ended, Jenn can either help me on my commissions or work on her own projects.

"That might be one of the most unusual relationships I’ve heard of. Anyway, I think Adrianna mentioned that we’re still following the money. Shutting off the tap is only the start. The participants might have thought they weren’t hurting anyone, but it was still bank robbery. We will try to recover the money and put the thieves in stasis.

Is there a good time to visit the farm to make an inquiry? I’d like to see the exhibit and the bridge firsthand.

How about after the farm closes and Jenniphor is back? She’s curious about my Other Life inquiries. Or is what you’re after too confidential?

Arlyne didn’t reply immediately.

I’ll ask her to respect the confidentiality of whatever she hears as we did with Shar. In her work she’s taken a similar oath. She can discuss the contacts with you or Shar only. Is she home by 78 ticks?

Usually, but let me check.

A click later, I’d conversed briefly with Jenniphor.

Arlyne, 78 ticks will be fine. By gravo?

Tramo.

See you then. The contact ended.

I worked for the next three days on designs for the next generation of divider panels for Glammore. They were apparently selling them regularly but they hadn’t yet ordered wall panels.

New orders from VOC for wall panels ended with the bank revelations. We’d finished the last two sets of panels that had been on order, and they were paid for. I’d wondered if they would be.

I’d had no indication if Phallipa and Vinnseen had run afoul of the law or not. Solice had visited the Mosphire Smiling Dragon and learned that neither Zook nor Elleicia were working there.

I had a couple of ticks before the visitors would arrive. I ordered a zamo and walked toward the office.

Shar, have you heard from Solice recently?

Yes, her friend passed. I think she’s back at work. Why?

I need a few supplies and just ordered a zamo. I wondered if she was at work.

She is. I’ll tell her to expect you soon.

Fifteen clicks later I was picking up the things I needed when Solice approached from her office.

Solice, you have my condolences for Sidnie. You’d been with him for a few cycles, I believe.

We’d been together off and on for many more than that. He was nice, but much older than me. I haven’t been to the farm for a long time. I wasn’t able to help him much in the last few pherods, but I tried.

The exhibit work has been terminated but I wasn’t really surprised.

Shar said the magistrate used it to camouflage your work with Arlyne.

I’m not sure it fooled anyone, but who am I to say? I learned a lot about the animals on the planet.

I understand you have a new resident at the farm, Jenniphor. Shar says you’re helping her artistic skills.

She’s an animal specialist for Species Development and was assigned to help me build the animals correctly. I think she has a talent for painting and she helps me in the shop when she has time.

In the next rev, I’ll come out to see the exhibit. Shar showed me the new impressive bridge.

A click later, I gave Solice a long hug as we stood by the zamo.

Again, Solice, I’m sorry about Sidnie.

Thank you, Xacs, I’ll be out soon. I might go visit my son before long. I spoke to him after Sidnie departed. But don’t worry about your art, I can continue representing you.

Shar appeared in the Imac as the zamo headed for the farm.

We just closed the farm. Jenniphor said she’d heard from Arlyne regarding the Other Life interviews she wants you to make. You must have asked if Jenn could listen in.

She’s asked me questions about the process, but I’m really not allowed to share those past interviews without permission. You’re familiar with the process, but I thought Jenn might be more comfortable knowing we’re not hiding things from her.

Do you still have all your interviews in the Imac?

Yes. Arlyne usually listens to the interview live, and Lonreed usually copies them. That’s one of the great features of the Imac, I can communicate with the real world and the Other Life at the same time.

Can I join you, too?

Arlyne said I could discuss what we do this time with you and Jenniphor, so I assume it will be okay if you listen. You’ll both be under oath to not discuss it with anyone else.

"I have some customers to contact, but I’ll let you know when the visitors arrive. They